A prison officer has revealed her devastation after finding out ‘bloating’ was actually an 1st 4lbs tumour caused by a rare cancer.
Mother-of-two Stephanie Coles, 39, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma after noticing the lump on her abdomen when in bed with her fiancé in December.
The fitness enthusiast initially thought the lump was due to bloating and waved off other symptoms like diarrhoea and back pain as results of weight lifting and drinking protein shakes.
But her fiancé Philip Grey, 43, encouraged her to visit the doctors after noticing the size of the lump.
Fitness enthusiast Stephanie Coles, 39, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma after noticing the lump on her abdomen when in bed with her fiancé in December
After visiting her doctor, Stephanie, pictured at home with her two daughters, found out she would need surgery to remove the 8kg tumour, with the date set for March
Pictured left, Stephanie’s 1st 4lbs tumour, caused by a rare cancer, protruding from her lower abdomen. Right, an X-ray of the 8kg tumour
After visiting her doctor, Stephanie found out she would need surgery to remove the 8kg tumour, with the date set for March.
She explained: ‘After my fiancé noticed the lump, I called the doctors the next day and they initially thought it was an enlarged spleen so I was sent for an emergency ultrasound where I found out it was cancer.
‘The only option is complex surgery, I’ve had my pre-op and am having surgery on March 2 to remove the tumour.
‘At first, I noticed I’d put on weight and couldn’t understand why my stomach looked so big.
After visiting her doctor, Stephanie found out she would need surgery to remove the 8kg tumour (pictured L-R) with the date set for March
Stephanie’s fiancé Philip Grey, 43, (pictured) encouraged her to visit the doctors after noticing the size of the lump – which the mum initially thought was just ‘bloating’
The mother-of-two is fundraising with her daughters Kayley Yates and Courtney Coles (both pictured) to raise awareness for the rare cancer and has had to take time off from work following her diagnosis
‘It’s almost like being pregnant because I’m having to carry an extra 8kg on my stomach and even leaning forwards is difficult.
‘I’m a very fit, active person and own a private gym so the weight gain made no sense to me.’
The mother-of-two is fundraising with her daughters Kayley Yates and Courtney Coles to raise awareness for the rare cancer and has had to take time off from work following her diagnosis.
Stephanie added: ‘We’re trying to raise awareness because no one has heard of this type of cancer.
‘If all goes well, I’ll be in the hospital for a week following the surgery and then will have seven months of recovery.
It was Philip (pictured L-R) who encouraged the mother to visit the doctor before discovering the leiomyosarcoma- a rare type of cancer that grows in the smooth muscles that line organs like the stomach, bladder, and intestines
Stephanie is fundraising with her two daughters to raise awareness of this type of cancer, which can be cured when detected and treated early on
‘Luckily, the cancer hasn’t spread so the prognosis is good as surgery should completely remove the tumour.’
Leiomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that grows in the smooth muscles that line organs like the stomach, bladder, and intestines.
The cancer can be cured when detected and treated early on.
Stephanie said: ‘When I received the diagnosis, all I heard was cancer and tumour and I had never heard of this type of cancer before as many other people hadn’t.
Gym buff Stephanie says she is a ‘very fit, active person’ so the weight gain because of the tumour ‘made no sense to me’
After Philip, pictured in the car with Stephanie, encouraged her to visit the doctor, she found out she would need surgery to remove the 8kg tumour
‘The lump is rock hard and that kind of weight is really noticeable.
‘Once I’ve recovered, I’m hoping to set up my own charity specifically for this type of cancer and am currently holding fundraising events for Sarcoma UK.
‘We’ve raised just over £3,000 so far but are hoping to continue fundraising.
‘There’s no known cause as to why I have this cancer but after the surgery, I’ll be under review monthly to make sure it doesn’t come back.’
